Just Love What You Do

by: Anja Bauer Minkara, director & senior brand consultant

 

I just watched the Nike ad with LeBron James and I wondered how do they do it? How does Nike do it?

They give me goose bumps every time I watch their ads. Ok, I am an ex basketball player so it hits me even more than an average viewer, but other people say they get the same feeling even though they have no connection to basketball. 

 

Mr. Knight who sold shoes out of the trunk of his car and called the company that preceded Nike – Blue Ribbon Sports, was a visionary like many successful people. His determination to create high quality shoes for an affordable price was a good motivation. But the best motivation of all was his love for athletics. He wouldn’t have been able to create something this strong had it not been for his true love for the sport. This true love is seen to this day whether you are a professional athlete or a regular person who occasionally likes to sweat the stress away. 

Phil Knight’s partner Bill Bowerman was Knight’s athletics coach and his famous saying is “if you have a body, you are an athlete.” This is an embodiment of Nike’s spirit. Everyone can be an athlete. If you Just do it, you are an athlete.

That’s exactly what I love about the Nike spirit. It inspires you with good energy, which is seen in their advertising. It’s likeable and doesn’t turn anyone away.  If only there were more entrepreneurs who loved the business they were in, it wouldn’t be just about money but also about sharing with others their inspiration and passion.

 

Comments

[AndrazHafner]

I may add this Nike's add http://bit.ly/f6wutd as a supplement to your post. Keep on good working :)

[Brandoctor]

Thank you Andraz for your post. The ad is amazing and most importantly eye-opening. What's special is the dialogue and honesty and that it was made by a so called amateur. Did this ad influence the way you view Nike?